Boundary Commissions proposals would reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600. Some fear this would decrease challenge to government from its own backbenches by increasing the proportion of MPs subject to government patronage. But, says Hannah White, the debate is stymied: it is hard even to find out the true size of the 'payroll' vote.

Disagreements about how the House of Commons runs itself - about Private Members’ Bills, divisions, proxy voting and bullying and harassment - featured heavily in media coverage of Parliament before the summer recess. Hannah White warns that MPs seem oblivious of how bad this must look to the electorate.

The possibility of a second Brexit referendum is being discussed more widely at Westminster. But, Akash Paun argues, before anyone can decide whether it would be a good idea, a number of thorny issues must be addressed about how it would work.

Andrea Leadsom is proposing modest changes to how Parliament deals with bullying and harassment. The fact that only this baby step forward is possible highlights the problems with that culture – and may entrench it further, argues Dr Hannah White.

Setting aside a telling-off by the National Audit Office and a stunt from Labour, Esther McVey has escaped unscathed from the Universal Credit row. Effectively she has not been held to account, says Benoit Guerin.

A joint report from two select committees has called for a cross-party parliamentary inquiry to reform social care funding. Lucy Campbell says this approach is the best chance to break the current political deadlock.

The EU Withdrawal Bill finally finished its parliamentary journey last week. Dr Alice Lilly looks at what else has been happening in Parliament in the past year, and finds the Government’s status as a minority—and Brexit—has significantly curtailed its legislative programme.